Series Love #27: The Legend Series

Series Love is a meme we came up with. There are so many amazing book series out there. We love to share the love and help spread the word. If you want to play along all you have to do is pick a series. It doesn’t matter if it only has one book or a million, as long as you include the authors name and the covers of the books.



My pick this week is:

So Jasmine did this series pretty recently, but now it's my turn. This is one of my favorite dystopian series, y'all. It's not overly complicated. It has interesting politics, rebels, heroes, love, and so much pain. Goodness, this series hurts. But in a totally important to the plot way. Seriously, after I finished Champion and was done crying I was blown away by how perfect an ending it was. And Day and June balance each other out perfectly. If you're looking for a different kind of dystopian with plenty of action and just enough romance, you've been waiting too long to pick this series up. Especially if you didn't after Jasmine's post, because come on.

Also props to Marie Lu for making Day the only boy I can tolerate having long hair. Okay I more than tolerated it.

Waiting on Wednesday: Blue Lily, Lily Blue by Maggie Stiefvater

****"Waiting on Wednesday" is a weekly event hosted by Jill at the Breaking The Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.****

My pick this week is:



Blue Lily, Lily Blue by Maggie Stiefvater
Expected release date: October 28th, 2014
from Scholastic Press


The third installment in the mesmerizing series from the irrepressible, #1 NEW YORK TIMES bestselling author Maggie Stiefvater.

Okay so that's not really a synopsis. But clearly I never cared with this book.

Whenever I read this series I wish I could time travel to when all of them are out so I can read them back to back. Because one book is never enough. The world is so interesting and I love the characters and I just need this book, y'all.

And what does that title mean?!

That's what I'm anxiously waiting on this Wednesday. What about you?

Top Ten Tuesday (59)

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created by The Broke and the Bookish. We'd love to share our lists with other bookish folks and would LOVE to see your top ten lists

This weeks topic was a freebie and I was inspired by last weeks topic so here's my Top Ten Bookish Friendships.

• Will and Jem-Do I even need to explain? I could go on for hours about how much I love this relationship, but I don't think I could do it without crying. They would do absolutely anything just to make the other happy. Spoilers for Clockwork Princess: As much as I loved the ending, it will never not break my heart that these two didn't get to spend their lives together.
• Ethan and Link-These two are the most normal teenage boy bestfriends and when things around them start getting less normal (almost paranormal haha) their relationship just gets stronger. That's what annoyed me most about the movie. No matter how hot the girl. Link would never hurt Ethan and vise versa.
• The Golden Trio-Because their goodbye scene in Deathly Hallows Part Two was when I really started sobbing.
• The Golden Trio x2-aka: Percy, Annabeth, and Grover. Because they went through so much together in the PJO books and I miss them in the HOO books.  
• Karou and Zuzanna-These would cross worlds for each other. Literally. When there's deadly action, they want to be fighting side by side.
• Clary and Simon-Once they got past the whole one sided feelings thing, they got even stronger. They always want to be the others side in any situation. And because what kind of TTT post would this be without more than one mention of Cassandra Clare? (especially when I just reread CoFA and CoLS)
• All the Raven Boys-Because with all the shenanigans these four get into they have to be close. My favorite friendship is Gansey and Ronan, though.
• Tris and Christina-I had a whole post about how much I love Christina and it's mainly because of this friendship. They don't let anything get between them. Not even shooting the other ones boyfriend. Does that still count as a spoiler? Oops.
• Ismae/Sybella/Annith-I just read Mortal Heart (and whoa guys) and loved these three. Being an assassin to a god creates quite a bond.
• Rose and Lissa-I've only read the first book in this series, but it was enough to show me that these two would die for each other.

That was my top ten for this week. Any other friendships you would add to this list? Let me know in the comments!

Sweet Peril by Wendy Higgins Review

Reading Level: Young Adult
Publisher: Harper Teen
Source: Bought
Second book in the Sweet series 
Anna Whitt, the daughter of a guardian angel and a demon, promised herself she’d never do the work of her father—polluting souls. She’d been naive to make such a vow. She’d been naive about a lot of things. 
Haunted by demon whisperers, Anna does whatever she can to survive, even if it means embracing her dark side and earning an unwanted reputation as her school’s party girl. Her life has never looked more bleak. And all the while there’s Kaidan Rowe, son of the Duke of Lust, plaguing her heart and mind.
When an unexpected lost message from the angels surfaces, Anna finds herself traveling the globe with Kopano, son of Wrath, in an attempt to gain support of fellow Nephilim and give them hope for the first time. It soon becomes clear that whatever freedoms Anna and the rest of the Neph are hoping to win will not be gained without a fight. Until then, Anna and Kaidan must put aside the issues between them, overcome the steamiest of temptations yet, and face the ultimate question: is loving someone worth risking their life?


Review
I was a little scared to read this. I loved the first book with all my heart. I was afraid this wouldn't live up but I was highly mistaken. This blew my expectations out of the water!

This continues Anna's story. Shes gone a little bad! After hearing a new prophecy, she finds herself spreading hope across the world. All the while trying to avoid temptation!

Anna is seriously badass! I loved seeing her strength. Her personality is snarky perfection. She makes for an amazing main character! I was happy to see Kope again. I liked getting to know him a little better. Kiaden Rowe is absolute perfection. You mess with my heart far too much! It's torture! As much as I enjoyed Kope, Kia is the guy for me! I loved getting to see a different side of him. Also, those kissy scenes made my life. Even if I had to wait awhile.

I really love where this story is going. I loved all the triads and new characters. I loved the tension between characters. I may have almost had a heart attack a few times. I had no idea what was coming next. I cannot wait to continue this series. If you haven't checked out this series, I highly recommend. I promise it's not just for the boys!

Waiting on Wednesday: Blood of my Blood by Barry Lyga

****"Waiting on Wednesday" is a weekly event hosted by Jill at the Breaking The Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.****

My pick this week is:

Expected publication: September 9th 2014 by Little, Brown

Jazz Dent has been shot and left to die in New York City. His girlfriend Connie is in the clutches of Jazz's serial killer father, Billy. And his best friend Howie is bleeding to death on the floor of Jazz's own home in tiny Lobo's Nod. Somehow, these three must rise above the horrors their lives have become and find a way to come together in pursuit of Billy. But then Jazz crosses a line he's never crossed before, and soon the entire country is wondering: "Like father, like son?" Who is the true monster?

The chase is on, and beyond Billy there lurks something much, much worse. Prepare to meet...the Crow King.

This series is absolutely amazing. I've never read anything quite like it. The ending of the second book left me dying. That cliffhanger was very mean. I cannot wait to see how it all ends!  

The Infinite Moment of Us by Lauren Myracle

Reading Level: Young Adult
Publisher: Amulet Books
Source: Bought
Stand Alone
For as long as she can remember, Wren Gray’s goal has been to please her parents. But as high school graduation nears, so does an uncomfortable realization: Pleasing her parents once overlapped with pleasing herself, but now... not so much. Wren needs to honor her own desires, but how can she if she doesn’t even know what they are?
Charlie Parker, on the other hand, is painfully aware of his heart’s desire. A gentle boy with a troubled past, Charlie has loved Wren since the day he first saw her. But a girl like Wren would never fall for a guy like Charlie—at least not the sort of guy Charlie believes himself to be.
And yet certain things are written in the stars. And in the summer after high school, Wren and Charlie’s souls will collide. But souls are complicated, as are the bodies that house them...
Sexy, romantic, and oh-so-true to life, this is an unforgettable look at first love from one of young adult fiction’s greatest writers.

Review
I didn't know much before starting this story. I was incredibly drawn to the cover. I'm very glad I got a chance to read this. I wasn't head over heels in love but it was an amazing story!

This tells the story of Wren and Charlie. They have an undeniable spark but don't know each other very well. As they get to know each other, they build an unexpected relationship.

Both Wren and Charlie were amazing characters. They did take some getting used too. I did enjoy Charlie a little more than Wren. Wren had some immature aspects to her. I had my moments where I wanted to slap her. But she wasn't a bad character at all! Charlie was walking perfection. Where can I find one of him? He was so sweet and loving. I couldn't get enough. Wren and Charlie built an amazing relationship. They were very cute together!

This story was incredibly relatable. It was very unique. It's perfect for older high school students. I loved the cuteness. I loved that things weren't always easy. I loved having no idea what was coming next. I will say there was a lot of sexy times and words. That isn't something I'm  huge fan of but I thought it was tastefully done. It did fit the story. Overall I thought this was a very enjoyable read. It was adorable while still being real. I highly recommend!

Series Love #26: Starcrossed Series

Series Love is a meme we came up with. There are so many amazing book series out there. We love to share the love and help spread the word. If you want to play along all you have to do is pick a series. It doesn’t matter if it only has one book or a million, as long as you include the authors name and the covers of the books



My pick this week is:

I first started this series when Starcrossed came out and I remember how hard the wait between the books was. Goddess came out last year and I still miss this series. It's a take on Greek mythology that I've never read before and I loved reading about it. The main characters didn't get on my nerves and the side characters were just as great if not more. Plus the love triangle made sense for once. My favorite part though is the romance. It's one of the best forbidden romances in YA lately and one of my all time favorites. Helen and Lucas forever. To wrap this up I absolutely adored this series and can't wait for this authors new one.


That's my pick this week. Let me know what you think in the comments!

The Dream Thieves by Maggie Stiefvater Review

Reading Level: Young Adult
Publisher: Scholastic 
Source: Bought
Second book in the Raven Cycle
Now that the ley lines around Cabeswater have been woken, nothing for Ronan, Gansey, Blue, and Adam will be the same. 
Ronan, for one, is falling more and more deeply into his dreams, and his dreams are intruding more and more into waking life. 
Meanwhile, some very sinister people are looking for some of the same pieces of the Cabeswater puzzle that Gansey is after...


Review
I was so excited to finally read this one. I loved the first book with all my heart. I can say the same about this one. It met my expectations easy.

This continues Blue and her Raven Boys adventure. They are on the hunt for the Lost King. But, they aren't the only ones looking. If their going to survive, the must band together.

Blue is honestly the best main character. I love her so much. She has such an amazing personality. I love her go with the flow adventurous side. I also love that she stands up for herself. I really enjoyed Ronan's part in this story. It was cool getting to see so much of him. Adam kinda lost some of my love. He's a great character but he was a little off in this. Noah was fabulous as always. Now onto Gansey. Gansey has my whole heart. He takes some getting used too but I've fallen head over heels for him. He has this crazy unique personality that makes him impossible not to love. I cannot wait to see more of these bad boys and girl.

This storyline is dark. But it's not just dark. It's insanely unique also. That's one of the things I love about this series. I've never read anything like it. It's very fast paced. There was always something going on. I loved how mysterious it was. I couldn't stop reading even if I wanted too. There was tons of action and suspense. Everything felt like a surprise. I really can't wait to continue this story. The wait shall be torture. If you haven't started this series, I highly recommend doing so!

Waiting on Wednesday: This Shattered World by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner

****"Waiting on Wednesday" is a weekly event hosted by Jill at the Breaking The Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.****

My pick this week is:



This Shattered World by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner
Expected release date: December 23rd, 2014
from Disney-Hyperion


The second installment in our epic Starbound trilogy introduces a new pair of star-crossed lovers on two sides of a bloody war.

Jubilee Chase and Flynn Cormac should never have met.

Lee is captain of the forces sent to Avon to crush the terraformed planet's rebellious colonists, but she has her own reasons for hating the insurgents.

Rebellion is in Flynn's blood. Terraforming corporations make their fortune by recruiting colonists to make the inhospitable planets livable, with the promise of a better life for their children. But they never fulfilled their promise on Avon, and decades later, Flynn is leading the rebellion.

Desperate for any advantage in a bloody and unrelentingly war, Flynn does the only thing that makes sense when he and Lee cross paths: he returns to base with her as prisoner. But as his fellow rebels prepare to execute this tough-talking girl with nerves of steel, Flynn makes another choice that will change him forever. He and Lee escape the rebel base together, caught between two sides of a senseless war.

The stunning second novel in the Starbound trilogy is an unforgettable story of love and forgiveness in a world torn apart by war.

I saw this cover on a WoW last night and knew it had to be my pick for this week. I don't like it as much as the first one, but it has stars on it and I'm a sucker for those babies. Obviously. I loved These Broken Stars so, so much and I can't wait to see this world expanded on with new characters. My only problem? The release date.

 *cries*

So that's my pick this week. What was yours? Let me know in the comments!

The Final Descendants by Karina Gioretz Review

Reading Level: Young Adult
Self Published
Source: Author
First book in a possible series
*This was gifted to me by author for review*
At fourteen, Bryze Brooks has no idea about her extraordinary ancestors. After her father's death, she had grown up far away from the family manor on Ratclif Circle and the secrets it held within its walls. But everything changes when a surprise phone call leads Bryze back to the house where she comes face to face with her astonishing past. Once there, she begins to discover that all is not what it seems. Fantastic tales begin to intertwine with her reality when a magic arbor leads her into a world she never even dreamed existed. From mesmerizing visits at enchanted Oak Cottage, to terrifying encounters with villainous beasts of the dark, Bryze finds herself on the adventure of a lifetime as she begins to understand her royal responsibilities and what it means to be among the final descendants.

Review
I didn't know what to expect from this. I thought it was very unique. But, it did read more like a middle grade than a young adult.

This tells the story of Bryze. She's inherited a house from her fathers side of the family. I's been abandoned for quite some time. As her and her family settle in, Bryze discovers a magical fairyland.

Bryze was a great main character. I loved how adventurous she was. She was also very determined. One thing this story kinda lacked was importance of the characters. There were plenty of characters and they were great. But, as the story got going it seemed like the plot was all that mattered. We didn't get a chance to really get to know anyone.

This had an amazing storyline. I loved how creative it was. The story took a while to get going. So it took me awhile to get into. There wasn't a ton of action. There was a fair share of suspense. The setting was great. I loved all the fairytale aspects. Overall this was a pretty good read. It left me curious to see where it would go next.

Waiting on Wednesday: The Infinite Sea by Rick Yancey

****"Waiting on Wednesday" is a weekly event hosted by Jill at the Breaking The Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.****

My pick this week is:

The Infinite Sea by Rick Yancey

Expected publication: September 16th 2014 by Putnam Juvenile

The riveting follow-up to the New York Times bestselling The 5th Wave, hailed by Justin Cronin as “wildly entertaining.”

How do you rid the Earth of seven billion humans? Rid the humans of their humanity.

Surviving the first four waves was nearly impossible. Now Cassie Sullivan finds herself in a new world, a world in which the fundamental trust that binds us together is gone. As the 5th Wave rolls across the landscape, Cassie, Ben, and Ringer are forced to confront the Others’ ultimate goal: the extermination of the human race.

Cassie and her friends haven’t seen the depths to which the Others will sink, nor have the Others seen the heights to which humanity will rise, in the ultimate battle between life and death, hope and despair, love and hate.

I absolutely adore The 5th Wave. It was very impressive. It has a lot of well deserved hype. Don't let the hype scare you away. I cannot wait to see where this author takes the story next :)

What are you guys waiting on this week? Let me know in the comments! 

Top Ten Tuesday (58)

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created by The Broke and the Bookish. We'd love to share our lists with other bookish folks and would LOVE to see your top ten lists

This weeks topic is Top Ten Book Covers I'd Frame As Art. I'm gonna do series because most of the time if I love one cover, I love them all! I'm gonna try and do a few of my older favorites! 

1. Across the Universe series by Beth Revis. This series had a cover change right in the middle. But, even the newer covers are beautiful!
2. The Mortal Instruments and The Infernal Devices by Cassandra Clare. I love these covers mainly because they have the characters on them. 
3. The Infinite Moment of Us by Lauren Myracle. I read this book for the cover. It just drew me in with its prettiness.
4. Perfect Ruin and the Chemical Garden series by Lauren DeStefano. This author always has the most amazing covers. 
5. Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi. This one doesn't even need explaining. 
6. The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer. These covers fit the books perfectly while being super duper pretty.
7. The Violet Eden Chapters by Jessica Shirvington. This series is so close to my heart. The covers have just gotten better and better as the series continued.
8. These Broken Stars by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner. I really cant wait to continue this series. I also cant wait to see the cover for the sequel.
9. The Lux series by Jennifer L. Armentrout. They did just change these covers as the combined the books. But I have all the originals and they are so pretty I cant handle it. 
10. The Incarnate series by Jodi Meadows. This series might just have my favorite covers!

That's it for me! You guys let me know what you would pick in the comments :) 

Pivot Point by Kasie West Review

Reading Level: Young Adult
Publisher: Harper Teen
Source: Bought
First book in the Pivot Point series
Knowing the outcome doesn’t always make a choice easier . . .
Addison Coleman’s life is one big “What if?” As a Searcher, whenever Addie is faced with a choice, she can look into the future and see both outcomes. It’s the ultimate insurance plan against disaster. Or so she thought. When Addie’s parents ambush her with the news of their divorce, she has to pick who she wants to live with—her father, who is leaving the paranormal compound to live among the “Norms,” or her mother, who is staying in the life Addie has always known. Addie loves her life just as it is, so her answer should be easy. One Search six weeks into the future proves it’s not.
In one potential future, Addie is adjusting to life outside the Compound as the new girl in a Norm high school where she meets Trevor, a cute, sensitive artist who understands her. In the other path, Addie is being pursued by the hottest guy in school—but she never wanted to be a quarterback’s girlfriend. When Addie’s father is asked to consult on a murder in the Compound, she’s unwittingly drawn into a dangerous game that threatens everything she holds dear. With love and loss in both lives, it all comes down to which reality she’s willing to live through . . . and who she can’t live without.

Review
I really should have read this forever ago. I had wanted to read it for a really long time. I knew from the moment I picked it up that it was going to be amazing. Even though I had very high expectations, it blew them out of the water!

This tells the story of Addie. She can search the future when given a choice. When shes given the choice of what world she wants to live in, things get quite complicated.

I thought Addie was an amazing main character. I loved the difference between normal Addie and paranormal. Yes, she was different but she still had the same amazing personality. I loved how determined and strong she was. She made the best put of both the futures she saw. Both Duke and Trevor were fantastic. I couldn't decide who I liked better until the end. Laila was an interesting character for me. I liked but didn't love her. I can't wait to see more of these characters.

I think the coolest part of this story is that it's almost contemporary. They have powers, but the book didn't focus on just them. I loved the cuteness and the settings. I loved how relatable it was. I loved that I couldn't predict what was coming next. I ended up reading this in a day. I loved it with all my heart. I cannot wait to get my hands on the sequel.

April Monthly Wrap Up

Hey guys! We hope you had an amazing month! Here's our reading pans for the month of June. Be sure and let us know what your reading plans are in the comments! 

Marissa's wrap up

Jasmine's wrap up

Author Love #25: Jennifer L. Armentrout

 Author Love is a meme we came up with. There are so many authors and books out there that we love so much and want the world to know about. If you want to play along all you have to do is pick one of your favorite authors. Write what you like about them and/or their books. You can also include an author bio and synopsis of their book if you want.

My pick for this week is Jennifer L. Armentrout

# 1 New York Times and International Bestselling author Jennifer lives in Martinsburg, West Virginia. All the rumors you’ve heard about her state aren’t true. When she’s not hard at work writing. she spends her time reading, working out, watching really bad zombie movies, pretending to write, and hanging out with her husband and her Jack Russell Loki.

Her dreams of becoming an author started in algebra class, where she spent most of her time writing short stories….which explains her dismal grades in math. Jennifer writes young adult paranormal, science fiction, fantasy, and contemporary romance. She is published with Spencer Hill Press, Entangled Teen and Brazen, Disney/Hyperion and Harlequin Teen. Her book Obsidian has been optioned for a major motion picture and her Covenant Series has been optioned for TV.

She also writes adult and New Adult romance under the name J. Lynn. She is published by Entangled Brazen and HarperCollins.


Do I even need to explain why I love her? Not only does she write amazing books, she's super good at it and really funny. What else could you want? She writes faster than any other author I know of. It blows me away. She writes so fast that I can't even list all the books that she's written. So I'll just stick to the ones I've actually read. Her Covenant series just ended and that was the one I read first so I'm still really sad to see it go. I still have her Lux series, though. At least until August. *sigh* Lucky for me, she has a ton of other series for me to read and I hope to get to them very soon.
  
I think this is the only way to not have read any of her books:

So go you. Now stop avoiding it and read her books already. You can thank me later.


So that's the author I'm loving on this week. Feel free to comment with any other nice things you have to say about Jennifer L. Armentrout or what your favorite book by her is and I'll see you next time!

Spellcaster by Claudia Gray Review

Reading Level: Young Adult
Publisher: Harper Teen
Source: Won 
First book in the Spellcaster series
When Nadia’s family moves to Captive’s Sound, she instantly realizes there’s more to it than meets the eye. Descended from witches, Nadia senses a dark and powerful magic at work in her new town. Mateo has lived in Captive’s Sound his entire life, trying to dodge the local legend that his family is cursed - and that curse will cause him to believe he’s seeing the future … until it drives him mad. When the strange dreams Mateo has been having of rescuing a beautiful girl—Nadia—from a car accident come true, he knows he’s doomed. 
Despite the forces pulling them apart, Nadia and Mateo must work together to break the chains of his family’s terrible curse, and to prevent a disaster that threatens the lives of everyone around them. Shimmering with magic and mystery, New York Times bestselling author Claudia Gray’s new novel is sure to draw fans of the Hex Hall and Caster Chronicles series, and fans of the hit CW TV show The Secret Circle.

Review 
I'm a big fan of this author! It's been forever since I've read something by this author. This story really impressed me. I love witch stories. I thought this was a perfect read!

This tells the story of Nadia. She's on her own with her magic and moving to a new town. Something dark is haunting her new town. Nadia is determined to get to the bottom of it. Mateo has dreams of the future and Nadia is in many of them. If they're going to survie, Nadia and Mateo must band together.

I loved Nadia. She was such a unique charcater. I loved how strong and determined she was. I loved how she cared for the world around her. Mateo was fabulous. I loved him to pieces. I loved seeing him stick by Nadia. Things weren't easy for him. His struggle made the story feel more real. Valerie was such a good secondary character. I loved how involved she was. I can't wait to see more of these characters.

I loved this storyline. It was exciting and dark. I couldn't stop reading to save my life. There was tons of action and suspense. This might be my favorite book by this author. It really did impress me. There was too many amazing aspects to even count. I cannot wait to continue reading this fabulous series.